Azeez's RM144.6m graft trial begins on Sept 25

The graft trial, involving RM144.6 million, of former Tabung Haji chairperson Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim will commence on Sept 25.

Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi made the decision this morning after she was informed by the prosecution that the process of exchanging documents between parties had been completed.

She also heard from DPP Azlinda Ahad that the prosecution would be filing an application to transfer the case against Azeez and his elder brother Abdul Latif, who was charged with abetting, to the High Court.

Following this, the judge then ordered for trial commencement date to be set, pending the result of the transfer application.

She then told counsels from both the prosecution and defence to inform the court of the status of the application when there is an update.

Azura also set Oct 11 as the second day of the trial.

Azeez, who is Baling MP, was charged at the Sessions Court in Jan with 12 counts of gratification and money laundering amounting to RM144.6 million. 

The charges include three counts of gratification under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009, and nine counts of money laundering under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amla).

With regard to the gratification charges, Azeez is accused of receiving RM5.2 million from Mohammad Redzuan Mohanan Abdullah, a director of Menuju Asas Sdn Bhd.

The money was an alleged reward for assisting the company in securing projects for highway construction and road upgrades in Perak and Kedah.

The projects were said to be worth between RM197.8 million and RM664.48 million, and the transactions were said to have taken place between December 2010 and April 2018.

With regard to the money laundering charges, Azeez is accused of receiving illegal funds amounting to RM139.41 million from four companies, namely Menuju Asas Sdn Bhd, Mangkubumi Sdn Bhd, Pintas Utama Sdn Bhd, and AVP Engineering (M) Sdn Bhd.

The transactions were said to have taken place in Klang Valley between March 10, 2010, and Aug 30, 2018.

Meanwhile, Latif was charged with abetting the securing of kickbacks amounting to RM4 million in relation to highway projects worth RM644.48 million.

Both of them claimed trial for all of the charges. - Mkini